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Incredibly the penfriends have kept their promise for 55 years - sending a whopping 2,000 letters in total.

But the correspondents have now sent their final hand-penned notes to each other after agreeing to make the permanent switch to emails.

Penny started writing to Bonnie in 1958, aged 11. This photograph was taken one year later in 1959.

Firm friends: Penny has visited Bonnie eight times in 55 years including in 1992 (pictured left) and 1999 (right)

The women said they would miss putting pen to paper - but they plan to be in touch more regularly now.

Retired Penny, who used to work in potteries, said: 'When we were children we would write about school and what we were studying and then as we went into our teens we would talk about boyfriends and fashion.

'Bonnie was always a Pat Boone fan, as I loved Cliff Richard. We have never in 55 years run out of things to talk about.

'We were so much like each other in our ways. It was uncanny.

Bonnie and her husband Steve in Gatwick Airport on a visit to see Penny in 1997

Fond memories: Penny holding a photograph taken in 1981 when her and Bonnie first met face to face

'We now both have computers which is
great because you we can send each other letters more regularly and keep
each other posted on more of the little things.

'It isn't really the same as getting the old letters but we can now stay in touch so much easier.

'We now contact each other at least
two times a week. The main thing which is great with e-mail is the
pictures. I love seeing the children grow up.

'The
world has changed so much since we were little girls and we have to
embrace new technology. There just isn't the need for letters like there
used to be.

An Ohio newspaper article about Penny and Bonnie's first meeting in 1981 after 23 years of correspondence

Penny and Bonnie's daughter Stephanie in 1999. Penny said emailing makes it easier to see photos of the children growing up

TIMELINE OF A 55-YEAR FRIENDSHIP

1958: Aged 11 and 12 the girls first exchange letters on May 8 and agree to write once a month.

1967: Penny is invited to Bonnie's wedding in Ohio, but hasn't the funds to meet her pen pal for the first time.

1981: They finally meet for the first time in the U.S. for three weeks after Penny flew for the first time in her lifeand are featured in a local newspaper there.

1984and 1986: Penny visits the Bonnie in the U.S. for two weeks on two occasions.1992: Penny went to America for Bonnie's daughter Stephanie's wedding.

1997: Bonnie came to England for Penny's nephew's wedding and stayed for three weeks.

1999 and 2002: Penny went to visit Bonnie twice more for two weeks.2007:Penny went to America for a week for Bonnie's son Ben's wedding.

2009: Penny went to America for two weeks for Ben's daughter Stephanie's Christening.

2011: Penny's last visit to America was for two weeks in September.

2013: After sending 2,000 letters the pair decide to switch to emails permanently so they can keep in touch more regularly.

'It is amazing how much technology we have nowadays - we're even thinking about trying out Skype next.'

Their pen pal friendship was sparked
in May 1958 when Penny's mother received a food ration from a Mrs
Knowlmiller in the US, at the end of the war.

Penny's mother wrote to thank her and
they became penfriends, before helping their daughters find pals on
opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Penny, then aged 11, was quickly paired up with family friend of Mrs Knowlmiller, Bonnie.

Penny
was invited to mother-of-two Bonnie's wedding in Ohio in 1967 but was
unable to fly out and meet her for the first time due to lack of funds.

But in August 1981 they finally managed to meet in person - cementing their incredible connection.

Penny, who has visited Bonnie eight times in 55 years, today added: 'When I visit I take over fruitcake because they don't have that over there and I would often send British recipes.

'Bonnie sends me Hershey Bars, which are American chocolate bar which for a long time you couldn't get over here.

'Before Woolworths closed down I would often send the traditional pick and mix.'

Penny's father was a Lancaster bomber pilot who died on a good-will mission in 1948 when lightening struck his plane.

Bonnie has two children Stephanie and Ben, in their 40s, and four grandchildren Sam, 12, Jackson, 8, Vivienne, three, Harrison, two.